Nicole Storm Preparations in St. Augustine as King Tides Cause Nuisance Flooding - Where to Get Your Free Sand Bags

King Street bridge nuisance flooding in St. Augustine.

The City of St. Augustine is prepareing for Tropical Storm Nicole, which will arrive just as the high king tides once again cause nuisance flooding downtown and on King Street. 

The city is ready with sandbag operations, free parking at the garage, and a change in yard debris pickup schedule in preparation for the impact of Tropical Storm Nicole.

Image courtesy of the City of St. Augustine 

According to a press release,the City of St. Augustine is urging residents to prepare for flooding that is expected to exceed between three to five feet above street level in low-lying areas as early as Wednesday, November 9. 

The city additionally expects strong sustained winds and gale-force gusts are predicted, and advises that residents can also expect power outages, tree damages, and structure damage with rain and winds lasting through Thursday night and into Friday morning. 

Sandbag operations starts Tuesday, November 8, at 10:00am, and the City of St. Augustine will provide free sandbags until 5:00pm or until the supply is depleted at Francis Field, located at 25 West Castillo Drive. 

Image courtesy of the City of St. Augustine 

The sand and the bags are free of charge and there is a limit of 20 bags per person. Residents must bring shovels and are responsible for filling their own bags.

Vehicles should enter Francis Field from the west off Riberia St. and follow directions. The service will continue until the supply is depleted or the weather deteriorates until it is unsafe to do so. 

For additional information, please call the General Services Department at 904.825.1010. 

Free Parking The Historic Downtown Parking Facility will be free on Tuesday, November 8, starting at 5:00pm for residents living in low-lying, flood-prone areas who are seeking higher ground for their vehicles. Residents should plan to retrieve their vehicles once the storm passes, and it is safe to return home. 

Yard Debris and Residential Recycling Pickup Residential yard debris pickup will remain on its normal schedule this week on Wednesday, November 9 and operate additionally on Thursday, November 10. Residential recycling will not be collected this week, but will resume on Thursday, November 17 and Friday, November 18.

Residents are advised to not drive through standing water. In cases where driving through standing water is unavoidable, drivers are reminded to drive slowly with caution and not to create a wake. This can subsequently and inadvertently cause water to breach into homes and businesses causing additional or increased water damage. 

For more City of St. Augustine Storm info.

St. Johns County Storm Preparations 

St. Johns County is providing free sandbags starting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 8, 2022, at three locations throughout the County in preparation for Nicole. 

The sand and the bags provided are free of charge, but residents must provide their own transportation and shovels and are responsible for filling their bags. 

There is a maximum of 20 bags per person. 

The sand and bags are available between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, and beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, until weather permits. 

Free Sandbags in St. Johns County:

Windswept Acres Park - 5335 SR A1A South

North Beach Park - 3721 Coastal Highway

Palm Valley - Underneath the Palm Valley Bridge on the east side of the Intracoastal Waterway 

For more St. Johns County storm info visit additional information, visit: https://www.sjcfl.us/Hurricane/index.aspx